Trump.Forum- Trump’s Tax Bill Passes Key Senate Vote: Major Highlights and Session Events
Introduction
Key Vote Outcome
President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending legislation, known as the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” successfully cleared a crucial procedural hurdle in the U.S. Senate on Saturday evening, June 28, 2025, with a narrow 51-49 vote.
This marks a significant milestone for Trump’s signature legislative priority as Republicans push to meet a self-imposed July 4 deadline for passage.
The vote came after hours of intense negotiations and delays, with Vice President JD Vance present at the Capitol to potentially cast a tie-breaking vote.
However, his intervention wasn’t needed ultimately.
Only two Republican senators—Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Rand Paul of Kentucky—joined all Democrats in opposing the motion to proceed.
Significant Highlights of the Tax Bill
Tax Cut Provisions
The legislation proposes approximately $4.5 trillion in tax cuts over ten years, making it one of American history's largest tax reduction packages.
Key tax provisions
Individual Tax Benefits
Permanent extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provisions, including lower income tax brackets and increased standard deductions
Elimination of taxes on tips and overtime pay (temporary through 2028)
Dedication of auto loan interest on vehicles with final assembly in the United States
Enhanced child tax credit, increased from $2,000 to $2,200 per child
Senior bonus deduction of $6,000 annually for individuals over 65 (through 2028)
State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction
Increase of the SALT deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000 for married couples earning up to $500,000
The higher cap would expire after five years, reverting to $10,000
Business Tax Incentives
Permanent Business Provisions
100% bonus depreciation made permanent for property acquired after January 19, 2025
Permanent restoration of the research and development expense deduction
Permanent Section 163(j) interest deduction limitation using EBITDA calculation
Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction maintained at 20% permanently
Spending and Policy Changes
Military and Border Security
$150 billion increase in military spending
Enhanced funding for mass deportations and border wall construction
Healthcare and Social Programs
Significant cuts to Medicaid, including work requirements for non-disabled adults up to age 64
Rural hospital relief fund increased to $25 billion over five years
Changes to SNAP (food stamps) with expanded work requirements
Clean Energy
Repeal or phase-out of Inflation Reduction Act clean energy tax credits
Complete phase-out of solar and wind energy tax credits by 2028
Extension of incentives for nuclear, hydropower, and geothermal energy until 2036
Debt Ceiling
Increase in the national debt ceiling by $5 trillion
Key Events of the Senate Session
Pre-Vote Negotiations
The procedural vote was delayed for several hours as Republican leaders worked to secure support from holdout senators. Three Republican senators initially opposed the bill:
Thom Tillis (R-NC)
Opposed due to concerns about Medicaid cuts affecting North Carolina
Ron Johnson (R-WI)
Initially voted no, but later flipped his vote to yes
Rand Paul (R-KY)
Remained opposed, citing concerns about adding to the national debt
Vote Proceedings
The vote remained open for more than three hours as negotiations continued. Key figures involved in securing votes included:
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) is leading negotiations
Vice President JD Vance is traveling to Capitol Hill for a potential tie-breaking vote
Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) are negotiating for bigger spending cuts
Trump’s Response
President Trump closely monitored the vote from the Oval Office and later celebrated on Truth Social, praising supporters while criticizing holdouts.
He specifically threatened to support primary challengers against Senator Tillis, stating, “Thom Tillis is making a BIG MISTAKE for America”.
Trump also criticized Senator Paul, posting “Rand Paul ‘NO’ again tonight? What’s wrong with this guy???”
Democratic Opposition Strategy
Following the vote, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced that Democrats would force a complete reading of the 940-page bill on the Senate floor.
This procedural tactic will take 10-15 hours and delay the final vote until Monday.
“If Senate Republicans won’t tell the American people what’s in this bill, then Democrats are going to force this chamber to read it from start to finish,” Schumer stated.
Ongoing Challenges
The bill still faces significant hurdles
Senate Final Passage: Republicans can only afford to lose three votes, and several senators remain undecided
House Approval
The House must approve the Senate version, with some Republicans already expressing opposition to Medicaid cuts
Vote-a-rama Process
Senators will face unlimited amendment votes, where Democrats plan to complicate the process
External Criticism
Billionaire Elon Musk, despite his previous alliance with Trump, criticized the legislation as “utterly insane and destructive,” stating it would “destroy millions of jobs in America”.
This represents a continuation of the public fallout between Musk and Trump over the spending bill.
The Vote represents a crucial step forward for Trump’s legislative agenda.
However, significant challenges remain as the bill moves toward final passage and potential House consideration before the July 4 deadline.
